Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow - Guitar Tab

The Mike Oldfield Collection

2009 3:38

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About Moonlight Shadow

Few songs in Progressive Rock have a guitar hook as immediately singable as the one that opens "Moonlight Shadow." The repeating arpeggio figure is the heart of the song, and getting it clean at 110 BPM in E Standard tuning requires a relaxed picking hand and precise left-hand fingering. The pattern cycles quickly enough that any tension in your wrist will show up as stumbles, so take it well below tempo first. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that opening phrase slowed down until the shape feels automatic before you bring the speed back up. Beyond the arpeggio, pay attention to how Mike Oldfield keeps the tone clear and bright throughout, which means sloppy fretting is easy to hear. The key of A minor gives you a useful scale to work with when exploring the melodic fills between phrases. Patience with the right-hand pattern is what separates a convincing run-through from a hesitant one.

• The signature opening arpeggio pattern is the main technical challenge, demanding a consistent, relaxed picking hand to stay clean at tempo.
• E Standard tuning and the key of A minor make this a practical piece for guitarists building fingerpicking or pick-arpeggiation skills.
• Slowing the arpeggio figure down with looping tools is the most effective way to lock in the right-hand pattern before playing it at full speed.